Vehicle-wheel attachment



c. s. JANSEN. i VEHICLE WHEEL ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11| 19H3.

1,358,156. Patented Nov. 9,1920.

` fis CHESTER S. JANSEN',

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-WHEEL ATTACHMENT.

Application filed June 11, 1918.

To aZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, Cnnsfrnn S. Jansma, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Vehicle-Wheel Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automobile attachment, and more particularly to a tirev deflation indicating device whereby a signal is given when the pressure of the pneu* matic tire of any of the automobile wheels isreduced below a desired point, or when the tire is punctured and the air escapes therefrom.

he primary object of my invention is to provide a device of this kind which can be easily applied to any automobile or other vehicle wheel and which is rigid, durable and simple in construction and readily detached therefrom.

rllhe invention consists in a rigid member applied radially to a vehicle wheel and positioned with its outer' end the desired distance from the tread or outer periphery of the tire of the wheel.

It also consists in a rigid radially-disposed member secured to one of the spokes and the felly of a vehicle wheel and having its upper end abutting against a hub member of said wheel and its lower4 end spaced the desired distance from the road surface when directed vertically and when the tire of the wheel is fully inflated.

1t further consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts ,to be hereinafter described and more articularly pointed out lin the subjoined` c aims.-

In the drawings l Figure 1 is aside elevation of a portion of a vehicle wheel having a pneumatic tire applied thereto, the wheel being viewed from the inner side.

Fig. 2 is a section the wheel on line a-a,

taken radially through Fig. 1 the striking or signaling member and the lower fasten ing means for the sameI beingl shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is an en arged cross section taken on line b--b, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4L is an enlarged cross section taken online o-c, Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detached perspective Specification of Letters Patent.

views of Patented Nov. 9, 1920. serial No. 239,402.

the striking or signaling member of the device viewed from different points.

Fig. Tgis a detached perspective view of the spacing member for holding the outer end .of the device spaced from the tire.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of' striking or signaling member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The reference numeral 1 designates the vehicle wheel comprising a hub 2 having the flanges 3, a felly d, the spokes 5 and the rim 6 secured to the outer peripheral face of said felly. 7 designates the pneumatic tire secured to the rim in any suitable mainner. The vehicle wheel to which my improved device is to be applied may be constructed as shown in thedrawings, or be otherwise constructed so long as the same is provided with a pneumatic tire 8 which, when it becomes partly deflated, will bring my improved device into action.

My device is applied to each wheel of a vehicle and it comprises a rigid radially-dis-v posed rod9 having, in preferred form, a widened and flattened upper end 10, the upper edge of which is preferably concaved to conform to the peripheral edge of one of the hub flanges 3.' This rod is preferably bent near its upper end, as at 11, and also a short distance from its lower end, as at 12, to off; set the lower end from the upper, the intermediate portion being inclined with respect to said ends. On the inner face of the iiattened "upper end 10 a prong 13is formed y which is embedded into one of the spokes of thel vehicle.

i form of a clip arranged to straddle one of the spokes of the wheel and the outer ends of the two bolt members of said clip have a connecting bar 15 placed thereon, agai st 1' which nuts 16 bear that are threaded onto said outer ends. p

The lower end of the rod 9 is secured to the wheel felly 4 by means of-a U-bolt 17 which is passed through said wheel `felly at opposite sides of the tenon of the spoke in line with the rod and through plates 18, 19,

.are'applied to the outer ends of the latter and adjacent parts of the Aapplied to opposite sides of said felly. A

spacing member 2O is placed between the inner plate 18 and the rod 9 to hold thelcwer end of the rod out of contact with the tire, which latter is ofrgreater width than the vfelly. This spacing member is formed of a strip of metal bent into S-form to form two eyes 2l, 22 through which the two parallel members of the U-bolt are passed. This .forms a substantial, simple, and cheap spacing member which cannot Abe lost in the event of the U-bolt becoming loosened.`

son the tire becomes deflated, the outer end of the rod will strike the road surface and by reason of the inner end of the rod abutting against one of the hub flanges, the shock of the rod will not be imparted to the rim or spokes, which would be injurious to the wheel. The contact of the rod with the road surface causes a pounding noise, which is the signal given the operator of the vehicle that his tires need attention. He is therefore enabled, before the tire is completely defiated, to inflate thetire to proper pressure'.

In Fig. 8 lV have shown a striking or signaling rod 9L of modified form. This rod is flattened and slightly widened at its upper end, as at 10a, the width thereof, however, does not exceed that of the spoke against which it is adapted to bear. In this construction it is not found necessary to concave the upper edge of said flattened portion, as a securebearing is had against the flange of the hub owing to the width of the flattened upper end being'less than that of the rod shown in the preferred construction. This rod is, however, applied to the vehicle wheel in the same manner as the rod shown in Figs. l and 2, and it may also have a prong similar to the prong 13 shown inl Figs. 2 yand G.

y the use of this invention the'operator of the vehicle is informed of the necessity of increasing' the air pressure in the tire immediately the pressure lowers sufliciently to cause the tire to become somewhat flattened under weight, thus the tire is saved from weakening strains and the life of the same greatly lengthened; it being well known that when a tire is run in a somewhat flattened condition the canvas thereofbecomes weakened and has a tendency to crack, all of which is avoided Vby keeping the tire properly inflated.

, tact with the road tremity spaced a distance from the road surface when directed vertically toward the road and when the tire is inflated toA desired pressure.

2. A signaling device for a vehicle wheel, comprising a rod having parallel end portions and an inclined intermediate portion, the end portions being secured respectively to one of the spokes and the wheel felly, the outer extremity of thev rod when directed vertically toward the road being spaced a Y distance from the road surface when the tire is inflated to the desired pressure.

A signaling device for a vehicle wheel, comprising a radially-disposed a flattened rality of spokes and having its outer end portion offset `with respect to its inner end portion but parallel therewith, and means for securing said end portions to the vehicle wheel, the outer extremity of said rod being spaced a distance from the road surface when the rod is directed vertically toward the road and when the tire is iniiated to the desired pressure.

l. The combination Vwith a vehicle wheel having a hub, of `a radially-disposed rod immovably secured to said wheel and having its inner end abutting against said hub and its outer extremity spaced a predetermined distance from the road' suriace whenclosest to said surface and when the 'tire is inflated to the desi ed pressure.

5.v The combination with a vehicle wheel having a flanged hub, of'a radially-disposed rod secured to ing a flattened inner end concaved at its inner edgeto conform to theperiphery of the flange of said hub, the outer extremity of said rod being positioned to come in conbecomes deflated to a predetermined point and the Vcon'caved inner edge of said flattened inner end being in contact with the periphery of thev flange of said hub.

6. The combination with a vehicle wheel, of a rigid radially-disposed rod having its inner end bearing against the hub ofsaid wheel and its outer end spaced a distance from the road surface when said rod isl directed vertically toward said surface and when the tire is inflated to the desired exrod having inner end bearing against a plusaid vehicle wheel and hav# surface only when the tire clip to secure the inner end of the and fastening means passed telly of said Wheel and serving fasten said rod near its outer means for fastening the inner end of said rod to said spoke, and means for astening the rod near its outer end to the elly oi' said Wheel, the outer end of said rod being spaced the desired distance from the road surface when closest thereto and when the tire is inflated to desired pressure and being adapted to Jorcibly strike the road surface when the tire becomes deflated to a predetermined pressure.

8. The combination With a vehicle Wheel, of a ra dially-disposed rigid rod secured near its inner end to one of the spokes of the Wheel,l a U-bolt passing through the wheel :telly and straddling said rod, spacing means between said rod and said Wheel telly, and nuts applied to the parallel members of said ll-bolt to clamp said rod against said spacing means.

9. The combination with a vehicle Wheel, oi a radially-disposed rigid rod secured near its inner end to one of the spokes of the. wheel, a U-bolt passing through'the Wheel telly and straddling said rod and a spacing member having two eyes through which the parallel members of said U-bolt are passed, said spacing member being positioned between said rod and said Wheel telly, and nuts applied to the ends of said parallel mem ers.

10. T he combination with a vehicle Wheel, oit a radially-disposed rigid rod secured near its inner end to one ot the spokes of the Wheel, a U-bolt passing through the Wheel telly, plates at opposite sides of said wheel elly through which said U-bolt is also passed, an -shaped spacing member itted onto the parallel members of said U-bolt between one of said plates and said rod, and nuts applied to the outer ends of said parallel members and bearing against the other of said plates.

1l. A signaling device for a vehicle Wheel,

comprising a rod having its inner and outer ends secured to said Wheel, said rod being provided with a prong embedded into one of the spokes of said Wheel and the outer extremity oi said rod being spaced a distance 'from the road surface when closest to said surace and when the tire is inflated to desired pressure.

l2. The combination with a vehicle Wheel. of a radially-disposed rigid rod secured near its inner end to the Wheel adjacent its hub, a U-bolt passing though the wheel telly, plates at opposite sides o' said telly through which said U-bolt is passed, a spacing member between the bight of said Ue bolt and one of'. said plates, and nuts applied to the outer ends of said U-bolt and bearing t against the other of said plates.

In testimony whereofl I aiiix my signature.

` CHESTER S. JANSEN. 

